3 inch chamber on 20 ga. VHE

[Alfred Greeson]

I have a VHE 20 gauge from 1917 and the chambers measure 3 inch on what appear to be 26 inch uncut barrels. The barrels do not have a weight in pounds and ounces as usually seen, just a plain 3 is stamped where you normally see the barrel weight. Serial number is 176850. Interesting that the serial number is not in the Parker I D book but the guns around the serial number are S or T13 quality codes and primarily 12 ga. with 32 & 34 inch barrels. Is this anything unusual and could the lone 3 represent 3 inch factory chambers in 1917 on a 20 ga?